19–25 October 2026
I’ve noticed that our family trips rarely make it into my blogs. I honestly don’t know why. Maybe I’m too busy living them to write about them, or maybe I’m still recovering from the packing. This time I decided to break the jinx and write about our recent trip to Malaysia, just the four of us.
The original plan was to travel right after Cia’s Class X boards, but the universe had its own plans, as it usually does. The trip ended up falling over the Dussehra break, and I’m glad it did. We were all looking forward to it, the kids most of all.
We’ve done a couple of US trips before, but this was really the first international trip that Cia and Aden are old enough to remember, most of it anyway. That’s why I wanted to write it down, so that years from now we can come back to these pages and say, “Remember when…?”
Kuala Lumpur: Tall Buildings, Fancy Cars and Beautiful Silence
After plenty of enthusiasm and the usual last-minute packing chaos, we landed in Kuala Lumpur, our first stop. The kids were in awe of the tall buildings, the city lights and how organised everything looked. Aden was busy counting luxury cars, and every few minutes there was another one he had to point out. Cia loved the feel of city life.
What surprised all of us was that the roads were full of cars and yet nobody was honking. There’s a penalty for unnecessary noise, and it has created a quiet discipline where people pay attention to the road and to each other. As someone from Bangalore, I found this almost spiritual.
There was another first on this trip: two rooms. The kids are growing up, and it turns out that one roommate is far better than three. The result was that I was less annoyed and much more at peace. I highly recommend it.
The first evening was easy: a light drizzle, burgers for Bob and the kids, and fries for me. The next day was a full one. We went to Batu Caves, then the KLCC tower, St. John’s Cathedral, lunch at a Malay-Thai restaurant, a walk back to the hotel and an evening stroll to Pavilion Mall.
Highlights: climbing the 300-odd steps at Batu Caves, home to Malaysia’s oldest temple, and being rewarded with an amazing view. Time at the KLCC observation deck, where Aden was glued to the telescopes studying the buildings. A few quiet moments at the cathedral.
Lowlights: some grumpiness about the walking. We were averaging 10,000–12,000 steps a day, and my younger one made it very clear that this was not his idea of a holiday. Luckily, burgers fix his grumpiness within seconds. Every parent needs a tool like that.
Cameron Highlands: Strawberries and Cool Air
Next came the long drive to Cameron Highlands. We stopped at a strawberry farm and then checked into the Oakwood Hotel, which, thankfully, was lovely. Booking stays is always a gamble because you never know whether a place will look like its pictures. Luckily for us, every stay on this trip was well managed and had a good vibe for a proper rest.
I loved the cool weather and the view of the huge golf course from the rooftop. In the evening we took a short walk to Tokyo Town, had dinner at Centrum Mall and headed back early, because another long journey was waiting.
The Train to Johor Bahru: Six Hours, Five of Them Asleep (Cia’s Record)
To be fair, the train to Johor Bahru was the only boring part of the trip. It took six hours. Cia slept for about five of them, and the rest of us just tried to pass the time. Some people have all the luck.
From Johor station it was a 30-minute drive to Somerset Medini, followed by a stroll to Medini Mall. There we found chapati, chicken and masala chai, and after days of eating abroad that felt like a hug from home. The kids stayed loyal to their burgers while Bob and I enjoyed the Indian food.
The Aquarium: A Moment I Still Can’t Put Into Words
The next morning we visited the aquarium, and something unexpected happened to me there. Somewhere between the slow, floating jellyfish, the colours and the silence of the underwater world, I felt overwhelmed. It was quietly marvellous, almost divine, as if everything had been built so carefully that all we have to do is exist with awareness and let the rest take care of itself.
It felt surreal, and I still can’t fully describe it to anyone. Some moments just aren’t meant to be explained.
Legoland: Water Rides, Big Imaginations and a Small Heart Attack
Then it was theme park time. We started at the water park with the wave pool, along with the beautifully told story of how one man’s passion led to the creation of Lego and everything imagined with it since. We’ve been on rides in Bangalore, but here there were no crowds (thank you, off-season) and the rides weren’t too steep. That gave Bob the confidence to try most of the water rides, which I count as a personal growth moment for him. 😄 We had the best day, with plenty of rides and some relaxing in between, and that night everyone was asleep the moment they hit the bed.
The next day was the dry side of Legoland, and I was amazed by the power of imagination. It felt as though nothing in this world couldn’t be built out of Lego: elephants, bears, dinosaurs, a life-size Ferrari and even an entire stadium. Amazed is the only word I have for it.
At the Ninjago show, the master tells his students that the light is inside you and that you already have what you need. It gave me a strange feeling of déjà vu, like a message I was meant to hear.
We also tried the Lego challenges. Cia was the winner, of course, and she was kind enough to help the rest of us. She offered to go and collect our prizes, and since we were all exhausted, we let her go on her own.
Then she didn’t come back.
Minutes passed and I started worrying, and then regretting. Why had I sent her alone? Why hadn’t I given her a phone? Bob went looking for her while I stood there praying silently with everything I had, trying very hard to stay calm. As always, God had us covered, and she came back. All my inner beasts settled down at once. We returned to the hotel to pack, the kids holding their Lego boxes as souvenirs, ready to fly back to Kuala Lumpur.
The Federal Territory Mosque: A Humble Reminder
After a hearty breakfast we kept the morning slow and relaxed in the room before heading to the Federal Territory Mosque. It was our first visit to a mosque, and at first it felt a little unfamiliar. Then Shahira, our guide, joined us, and her stories turned it into something quite special.
She explained the architecture, which draws on six countries, shared teachings of Prophet Mohammed and told us some of her own personal stories. She was quite impressed by Cia’s questions, and so was I.
A few things I learnt:
- Every mosque has one wall designed differently from the others. It shows the direction of Mecca, and that is the wall people face when they pray.
- The Quran is the oral recitation, and the written manuscript is called the Mushaf.
- As I’d always believed, every scripture carries the same message of love, peace and kindness. It’s human interpretation that divides us.
I left with a humbling reminder: we are meant to be the best version of ourselves in this world and to return to God as that version when the time comes. Nothing matters more than trying every day to be a better human, for ourselves and for the world.
Petronas Towers: Patience Is Its Own Ticket
The Petronas Towers visit nearly didn’t happen. Between the rain and a Grab driver cancelling on us, we arrived about 1.5 hours late and had missed our slot. We weren’t sure they would let us in at all.
We waited another 1.5 hours. The lady managing the queue kindly let us stay and eventually allowed us in. So we got that magnificent view at the regular evening price, paid for with a few extra hours of patience. God was kind to us throughout this trip, and we saw it many times.
Visits are strictly timed, just like at the KLCC tower, so we couldn’t stay as long as we’d have liked. Still, we got a great view of the city and some candid pictures before dinner at a nearby Indian restaurant and a walk back to the hotel.
Zoo Negara: The Pandas Who Didn’t Care
On our last full day we walked to Central Market for some shopping and then went to Zoo Negara to meet some of the other beings we share this planet with: giraffes, elephants, flamingos, hippos, rhinos, deer, monkeys and plenty of insects.
The undisputed stars were two carefree, very cute pandas who were fast asleep while crowds of visitors wandered around them. We waited and waited. Eventually one of them gave us a quick peek at his face before going straight back to sleep. They were completely unbothered by the noise and the people, as if sleep was the only thing in the world that mattered. Honestly, it’s a life goal.
After a rest at the hotel we had lunch at a nearby Mediterranean restaurant. Cia’s pizza was delayed, so she got a complimentary pudding. That turned into her perfect “me time” back in the room with pizza, TV and her comfortable bed. The girl knows how to live.
That evening, our last in KL, we strolled through KLCC Park, a huge green space full of joggers and trees with a stunning view of the Petronas Towers.
Back Home, Honks and All
Early the next morning we checked out, went through all the check-ins, took a four-hour flight and landed back in Bangalore. Back to real life, a fair bit of honking and our home waiting for us.
I don’t know how much of this trip we’ll remember in a few months or years. But I’m sure of one thing: it had something for each of us individually and so much for us as a family. Whenever we look back on our Malaysia trip, I hope it brings back sweet memories, a few smiles and the feeling that we are each other’s home.
Grateful for this experience. It’s easily my highlight of 2026.
Until next time… ✈️
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